Dalits shout slogan against Udupi MLA, engage in verbal duels

Udupi, 30 Jan 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: Two separate protests of the District SC/ST Sand Boats Workers Association and Action Committee for Sand led by Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat held in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Tuesday ended up in verbal duels between the two groups.

When the overnight protest of the Action Committee for Sand entered the second day, the SC/ST Labourers held another protest as the Mining Minister was supposed to visit the district. During the protest, the dalits shouted slogans against the MLA saying that he has been supporting the sand mafia.

Sangha general secretary Shekar Hejamadi said that the Udupi MLA has been supporting the sand mafia. They would expose his activities before the national and state leaders. They were given constitutional rights and they were asking it, they said.

At this moment, BJP CMC member Girish Anchan brought his car in front of the dalits where they were sitting dharna. But the dalits objected to it and asked the police to remove the car. Then the BJP workers gathered there and objected to shouting slogans against their MLA. This has led to verbal duels between both the groups. However, the police who rushed to the spot pacified the situation.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the district administration has been conspiring against him purposefully and asked the dalits not to fall prey for it. The district administration has been trying to control their protest through conflict. Their protest was a political protest and fighting for the people. The administration should not divide them, he said.

Countering it, SC/ST Labourers Association honorary president Uday Kumar Tallur said that the elected representatives who should have become the voice of the dalits were neglecting them. There were none to raise voice in favour of them. They were not sitting dharna under the direction of the district administration. They were not the slaves of anybody, he said.

“We are sitting in dharna in order to express their grievances before the Mining Minister. The MLA should not speak lightly. He should tender apology from the dalits. One should not oppress their voice. The MLA should speak in the Vidhana Soudha on sand problem instead of speaking in streets. We do not have fear of anybody. We are asking justice only”, he said.